If Truth Comes Humbly

by Joy Taylor

My teachers are the flowers
and the organic matter in the soil.

My teachers are loving mothers, daycare providers,
social service workers, nurses, and secretaries.

My teachers are the gardeners, the garbage collectors,
and the children who laugh at themselves.

My teachers are crawling creatures,
water-worn seashells, and the clouds.

My teachers are the embarrassing moments,
the tears, and the apologies.

My teachers are the gifts of the heart,
home-cooked meals and warm hugs.

If truth comes humbly,
then make my teachers the soft at heart.